On Friday, a Chinese priest was consecrated as the new coadjutor bishop of Beijing, marking the first episcopal appointment following the recent renewal of the Vatican's provisional agreement
with China on bishop nominations.
“I do all things for the sake of the Gospel,” declared Matthew Zhen Xuebin in his thanksgiving address, citing the Apostle Paul, as reported by Agenzia Fides. “I am grateful to the Lord for his grace in choosing me, a humble servant, as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Beijing.”
The consecration ceremony took place at Beijing’s historic Beitang Cathedral, with Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing leading the ceremony. He was joined by four other Chinese bishops, around 140 priests, and approximately 500 attendees, including religious sisters and family members of the newly consecrated bishop.
Pope Francis appointed Zhen as coadjutor bishop on August 28, with approval given under the terms of the provisional agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, according to the Vatican.
Born on May 10, 1970, in Changzhi, Shanxi Province, Zhen began his theological studies at the Beijing Philosophical and Theological Seminary, completing his initial formation between 1988 and 1993. He furthered his studies in New York, obtaining a licentiate in liturgy from St. John’s University. Ordained in 1998, Zhen served as vice rector of the Beijing Seminary until 2007 and later became diocesan chancellor.
Agenzia Fides reports that Zhen has been particularly active in pastoral work with non-Chinese Catholics in Beijing, overseeing liturgies in Korean, English, and Tagalog.
The Diocese of Beijing, which Zhen will help lead, serves roughly 100,000 Catholics, with 80 priests across about 40 parishes and churches. As coadjutor bishop, Zhen will support the current bishop and has the right to succeed him.
Zhen’s consecration is one of about ten episcopal appointments under the Vatican-China agreement, which was initially signed in 2018, according to Vatican News. Photo by Zheng Zhou, Wikimedia commons.
